Method of washing ampoules



Sept. 23, 1941. J. BREWER. 2,255,663

l A METHOD OF WASHING AMPOULES I Filed Aug. 9, 1940 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1III/ll 'IIIIIIIlI/IlI/II/ll I "In" wunnnnlnunz Sept. 23,1941.

J. H. BREWER METHOD OF WASHING AMPOULES Filed Aug. 9, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 -ing of a large number Patented Sept. 23, 1941 METHODOFWASHING AMPOULES John H. Brewer, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Hynson,vWestcott &' Dunning,

Incorporated, Baltimore, Md a corporation of -Maryland ApplicationAugust '9, 1940, Serial No. 352,020 (Cl. Lil- 7) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for washing-ampoules. Moreparticularly the invention relates to a method for filling ampoules witha washing liquid and for expelling-the washing liquid from the ampouleswherebyv they, are cleaned and dried and prepared for use."

Ampoules are glass receptacles of small size, usually cylindrical inshape, andhave av capacity of not more than a few cubiccentimeters.Generally they are provided with restricted openings which are so smallthat they-will not fill with water on being submerged in it and waterwill not flow out when the ampoule is turned upside down. It isdifficult therefore tointroduce and withdraw a washing-liquid. Theconventional method is to introduce and withdrawthe washing liquid bymeans of small pipes or capillary tubes which are inserted through thenecks of the ampoules and it will be appreciated that this method istedious andtroublesome and relatively inefficient. i

, In accordance with the-present invention the washingliquid, e. g.water, is forced into and out of the ampoules by centrifugal force. Thismethod makes possible the simultaneous washbe handled as much as isnecessary, i. e. the mere reversal of the ampoules from filling positionto emptying position, ness of handling the individual ampoules iseliminated. The centrifugal method may be carried out by means of asimple,-relatively inexpensive and trouble free apparatus.

Apparatus suitable for carrying out the washing method is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side view partly inelevation and partly in section of the complete apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus with the lid thrown open and partsremoved to reveal the interior,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tray for bolding a plurality ofampoule channels shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 4 is a. perspective view of the grill for holding the ampoules andampoule channels in the tray of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ampoule channel,

Fig. 6 is a side view of a typical ampoule,

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the frame or cage for supporting aplurality of magazines of ampoules in the centrifuge,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a magazineassembly showing the tray,

of ampoules which mayin groups so that the tediousthe ampoule channelswith an ampoule in place, and the grill inoperative relation, and

Fig. 9 ,is a top plan view of a tray. filled with ampoule channels. v

Referring particularly to Figs- 1; 2 and 3 of the drawings I istheoutside casingof the centrifuge in the formof a cylindrical vesselopen at the top and standing on legs 2. Casing .I has a central openingin the bottom provided with a 0 stuffing box 3 and bearing! for thevertical shaft throughthe casing and carries the cylindricalit! which isrotated by the pulley I5,.driven by the belt 16 from pulley [1 ontherotating shaft iii of motor I9. thelatter'being supported on thehousing I. Shaft l0 extends. upwardly vessel 32 which is secured to and.rotateswith the shaft Ill. Vessel l is provided with a permanently opendrain} and vessel 32 is provided with an opening 345m its bottom fordischarging 2 its contents. Opening 34 is closed by a remov able plug35. Shaft 10 is provided with a vertically extending key 42 which fitsthe key way 43 (Fig. '7 in the hub 28 of the frame 2| so that vessel 32and frame 2| rotatetogether with shaft II) but frame 2| is readilyremovable. Vessel-32 is provided with a cover 38which is securely butremovably held in place by screws 39 which extend through the cover. 38into the threaded bosses ll on the body'of vessel 32.. Cover 38 is 3provided with a central opening surrounded by stufling box 40 for theshaft l0. Shaft Ill extends upwardly through an opening in the removable cross bracket 36, which opening serves as an auxiliary bearingfor the shaft 10, and on up into the bearing socket 9 in the cover 8 ofthe casing Cross bracket 36 rests in supporting slots 31. Cover 8 ishinged at 8 and is held in closed position by the locking member [4hinged to projection I3 and adapted to engage the lugs 1. Cover 8 isprovided with a depending flange H and packing I2. The frame 2| issupported on the shaft I8 and spaced from the bottom of the vessel 32 bythe bearing collar 33.

Referring now to Fig. '7 of the drawings the frame 2| comprises the hub20, diagonal or radial bracing members 22 and outer, rectangular boxshaped compartments 23 adapted to hold the ampoule magazines.

An ampoule magazine compnsing the tray 24 I (Fig. 3), the ampoulechannels 28 (Fig. 5), the

grill 29 (Fig. 4) and the ampoules25 (Fig. 6) all shown in assembledrelation in Figs. 8 and 9 will now be described. All of these partsexcepting the ampoules which of course are of glass, are made of asuitable material such as and thus also holdsthe ampoules hold say sevenampoule channels (see Fig.5 9)

Tray 24 each channel containing 8 ampoules.

[size of ampoule v cartridge. Any apparatus: capable of supporting oneor more ampoules sub- Tray 24 is is provided with the wired rim.28 whichengages lips ll! of the grillr29 30 5801116 the latter inplace..Grill'29 comprises a square frame sized tojflt telescopically withinthe side wall of the tray 24 r and is provided with grid members 4!adapted to rather closely fit the narrow portions-of the ampoules abovethe shoulders and, thus to hold the ampoules in the channels whencentrifugal force is applied to expel the washing liquid from theampoules. Grill29 is held inv place by the lips 3| engaging the wired'rim 2.8 of the tray and the ampoule channelsin place.

" Ampoules 25 are placed in channels 26 and the loaded channels'areputin tray 24 and grill 211s.

inserted. One of the resultingampoule cartridges 2 is inserted infieachof the compartments 23' of the frame 2 I Frame 2| is then inserted intovessel32 which s ones with "washing liquid,- cover as 1 1s 'put;on,:bracket f3 put inv place, cover 8 closed and motor, I! started. Infilling the ampoulw with washing liquid themagazines are so inserted incompartments 23 that the open ends of the am poulespoi'nt toward the hub20. Uponrota'tion the washing liquid is' forced into the ampoulesdisplacing air. 'lhe movement of the washing liquid into theampoulesymay'bemade' sufllciently vigorous: to exert a cleansing action,for-instance ."when the vessel 32 has a radius of about seven inchesandthe rotation is at the rate of about 300 .RpPtM'. When "theampoules-have been filled with the washing liquid the machine isstopped, the liquid is drainedfrom vessel 32, .the positionof'theianipoule magazines reversed and the machlneoperated again toexpelthe washing liquid.

These operations may be repeated if desired with the same ordiiferentwashing liquids. After expulsion of the final washing liquid'theampoules are clean and dry and ready foruse. f

; Itwill be appreciated that the apparatus may be madeiof' any suitablesize and the frame 2| may The 'operation of the apparatus is as follows.

be designed to hold a larger number and a larger merged in a liquid insuch positions that centrifugal force may be applied first to force. theliquid into the ampoules andthento expel the liquid may serve to carryout the method. The ampoules need not ,be supported. radially. They willfill if their open ends are nearer to the axis than any other part ofthe ampoule and willempty if the open ends are farther away from theaxis than any other part. It is within the scope of mylinvention 'to useone centrifugal. device for filling the ampoules and another foremptying them. In'thatevent the device for filling'the :ampoules wouldcomprise aframe for supporting the ampoule cartridge in fllling positionand the emptyingdevicewould comprise a frame for supporting thecartridges in emptying. position. v The device designed merely foremptying the ampoules will not require a-container such asthe vessel 32-'forliquid, Thesemoreorless obvious modificathus of the"specificapparatus illustrated in the" I drawings are-su gested in:order: to. indicate the scope of the, appended. claims.

' the washingofampoules butembraces filling and centrifugal actionfor'anypurposafr emptying. ampoules similar containers by 2.'Method 0rwashing-amp0ules which comprises rotating abody of'washing liquid about.an 1 axis, supporting an ampoule' submerged in "said 1,

body of liquidiwith itslop'en end spaced from said axis'butgnearerthereto "than any 0ther;-part of the ampoule,rotating said ampoule withthe body "of liquid until'it is filled with said liquid, separate ing'the ampoule from the body of liquid and rotating the-ampoule-about anaxis with its'open end farther away'from the axis thanany other part ofthe ampouleto expel the-washing liquid I y g It will be appree" ciatedfurther that theinvention is not-limitedto 1. Method of washingiampouleswhich comj prises submergin'g-the samein-a -washingliquid, forcing-thewashing liquid into the ampoules by I centrifugal force and expellingthe 'liquid from the ampoules by, centrifugal'force. a 9 l

